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I have been a paediatrician since 1972 and have worked as a Community paediatrician with a special interest in Child Abuse and Abuse Prevention since 1990. I work in a health funded child abuse assessment unit in ACT and am one of two doctors employed by the Unit. There is also a paediatric registrar on 6 monthly rotation in a training position. I supervise both these people. Our service also includes adjacent NSW, with different legal and child protection systems.
Each year I assess about 200 children for concerns of physical and/or sexual abuse and also emotional abuse and neglect. Over my 13 years in the Unit I would have participated in some 2000 to 3000 assessments for suspected child sexual abuse, at a conservative estimate. These assessments sometimes proceed to court. In addition I consult with, and support, health professionals, teachers, families and community workers in case management.
I work closely with the statutory child protection authority (Family Services) and the police child abuse service (Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Team). I was ACT representative on the Commonwealth National Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse from 1997 -2000 and subsequently the ACT community representative on the Ministerial Advisory Council- the Australian Council for Children and Parenting- from 2000-2002. I was chairperson for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians' working party which developed a policy on child abuse, published in 2000- "Protecting Children is Everyone's Business". In 1999 I was awarded an Order of Australia for services to Paediatrics, Child Protection and the Community. I currently serve on the NAPCAN National Board as the ACT representative.
My interest in the areas of child protetion grew out of my experiences working as a school counsellor in NSW and ACT. I have been involved in NAPCAN off and on since its inception but since my retirement in 1997 have been able to offer more regular suppport as a member of the ACT NAPCAN committee.
I am a year ten student at CGGS (And I LOVE school!) I speak three languages, and am a community focused person. I began with NAPCAN as part of my Duke of Edinburgh, but intend to stay for the long term. I would like to assist in raising Community Awareness about Child Protection and how NAPCAN can assist with this. I do other voluntary work within the Canberra community, my focus being with children. I also am in Air Cadets with the RAAF.
My dream is to be a Mission Specialist with NASA and pioneer the way for women in an otherwise male dominated profession...who knows maybe I can take NAPCAN message all the way to Mars!
My skills are; I am artistic and creative, I am a thinker, I am a team player and yet can work unsupervised. I am committed to the task at hand and am not afraid of hard work. I enjoy working with the community being able to make a difference if only for one child.
I am a Consultant Psychotherapist & Early Childhood Specialist working in Private Practice in the area of Bereavement and Childhood Trauma. My background is in working with Child Abuse and Domestic Violence - Assisting children and adults making sense of their survival from such.I also work with Multiple birth families who have had one or more of their multiples die and families whose child has died suddenly (ie accidental/violent death). I facilitate a support group for Bereaved parents here in the ACT.
My skills are in Counselling/Psychotherapy, Facilitaing Group Work, Court work/representation, Case Management, Fundraising and raising Community Awareness within the field and related fields.
Most of all.......I am a mum... and I love being a mum!
I am a Legal Practitioner, former National President and ACT President of NAPCAN. I have a significant background in judicial administration including the Children's Court. I am involved in various non government agencies. I am a Board member of the Richmond Fellowship ACT (provides crisis and respite accommodation and various programs for troubled youth). I was awarded the Centenary Medal 2002. I am skilled in management, dispute resolution conflict management legal policy and practice.
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